Suicide Suicide • The intentional, direct, and conscious taking of one’s own life • As the 8 th leading cause of death in the U.S., it is considered a serious threat to public health.

Correlates about suicide Correlates about suicide • Facts about suicide: Common features among suicide: (a) intense and prolonged psychological pain – underestimated by others; (b) solution is to end pain and escape with no alternative in sight (tunnel vision) hopelessness/helplessness and associated with depression; (c) ambivalence; (d) interpersonal act involves communication of intent – 80% are preceded by behavioral cues indicating intentions. • Frequency: More than 30,000 in United States yearly (an underestimate by some 25 to 30% - some suicides disguised as accidental deaths); 8 to 10 attempts for each completion.

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• Gender -- men succeed three times more often than women; women attempt three times more often than men. • Occupation -- high rates among physicians, lawyers, law-enforcement personnel, and dentists. • Choice of weapon • Men choose firearms • Women choose barbiturate overdose but increasingly use firearms and explosives. • Children jump from buildings or run into traffic

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